Ju-eon had heard that Yeo Han-ol was missing, and Lee Ho-yun had been recruited overseas. Ho-yun had immediately moved to China, where the offer came quickly.

The legalization of private guilds meant that joining guilds belonging to other countries was also legalized.

There were still no established laws on how to punish espers or guides who committed crimes domestically and then transferred abroad. Therefore, to ensure they faced justice, cases would have to proceed to international trials.

Moreover, since Ho-yun had no obvious crimes on record, proving criminal activity would become even more difficult. As many people changed their citizenship when transferring, if Ho-yun changed his nationality, catching him would be nearly impossible.

But Ju-eon knew that an S-class hunter who set their mind to it could track down Ho-yun, a guide, and capture him without leaving a trace.

The more difficult one to catch would be Yeo Han-ol.

‘He hasn’t officially joined anywhere, so I don’t know for sure.’

But he suspected Han-ol had gone to Russia, his mother’s home country. Rumors suggested several people who had been hospitalized after taking the rampage drug had disappeared along with him.

‘We probably won’t see them again.’

Myung-hwon seemed to want to close this chapter. They weren’t entirely bad people.

‘I see.’

‘Do as you wish.’

Just as Myung-hwon wanted to do what Ju-eon desired, Ju-eon felt the same way. He wanted to do what Myung-hwon wanted. Honestly, there were many aspects he didn’t want to dwell on anymore.

He thought spending time with Myung-hwon would be better than hunting down everyone to bring them to justice. It might be a severe case, but after being separated for so long, he didn’t particularly want to change this mindset. They couldn’t be together forever as they wished, so he didn’t want to waste any more time.

“Phew…”

Standing in front of the building, Ju-eon exhaled a breath tinged with nervousness. He felt a sense of déjà vu. The difference was that last time he had come casually to check his matching rate, but today marked his first day of work.

After taking a deep breath in front of the building, he quickly entered the guild to avoid the security guard’s strange looks.

Myung-hwon had wanted to go to work together, but a dungeon had suddenly appeared two nights ago, and he still worked there. However, in the early dawn, Ju-eon had heard that the dungeon had been cleared.

‘We should be able to go home together.’

Today they had planned to visit a real estate agency after work to look at houses to move into.

Although he faced immediate deployment to a dungeon upon joining, he was told it was a low-ranked dungeon, so he should still be able to leave work by evening without any issues.

“Sigh…”

Ju-eon sighed as he faced himself in the mirror. His nervousness showed clearly on his face, and he absently touched his cheeks. It was impossible not to feel pressured—not only was it his first day, but he also headed straight to a dungeon.

But soon a smile spread across his face. He remembered the decisive reason why he had joined a few days ago.

91% was their matching rate. Ju-eon had been nervous about what would happen if the rate was low. But when Yun-jin checked the results, she couldn’t hide her surprise.

‘This is quite high. The matching rate.’

‘Is it?’

Ju-eon, who secretly worried about the missing 9%, scratched the back of his neck at Yun-jin’s surprised voice.

‘We consider anything above 70% to be good compatibility.’

‘Really?’

‘Since Myung-hwon is a high-level asset, we store and compare all the data, but you’re the first to score above 50% with him.’

‘Do they all usually come out that low?’

‘Myung-hwon is particularly picky. I had several compatible guides myself.’

Yun-jin clicked her tongue, saying she knew Myung-hwon was picky but didn’t realize he was so selective about guides too. So in the end, just as Myung-hwon wanted, Ju-eon had no choice but to join Dawn Guild immediately.

However, since Ju-eon had good compatibility with other espers as well, he couldn’t just stay in the office as Myung-hwon had hoped.

Myung-hwon wasn’t happy about Ju-eon’s immediate deployment, but No-hun strongly objected.

‘If we hire capable people and don’t use them, it causes more talk behind our backs.’

From No-hun’s bloodshot eyes and words about treating experienced workers without special treatment for newcomers, Ju-eon could easily imagine his hard work. So despite Myung-hwon’s disapproval, Ju-eon was scheduled to head to a dungeon today.

Ju-eon took a deep breath before opening the office door. He felt pressure to perform well, having been hired as a team leader with his previous experience counted. His biggest concern was not wanting to bring shame to the guild if he didn’t live up to his position.

Zing.

The automatic door opened. As soon as he entered, Ju-eon bowed his head in greeting.

“Hello, huh?”

But before he could finish his greeting, Ju-eon’s tension instantly dissolved.

“Why is nobody here?”

The office stood empty.

**

“Hyung!”

“Oppa!”

Gu-young and Su-hui rushed toward Ju-eon first, their faces beaming with happiness like puppies reunited with their owner. Behind them, Myung-hwon and Yun-jin approached Ju-eon side by side. Yun-jin rubbed her tired face and apologized to Ju-eon.

“I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

“For a moment I thought I was experiencing a new form of workplace bullying.”

When Ju-eon joked, Myung-hwon’s body visibly stiffened.

“No way! That couldn’t happen,” Su-hui said, shaking her head with wide eyes.

“I heard that the Guild Master clearly instructed everyone to go directly to the gate area. Somehow that message just happened to miss Ju-eon.”

With Yun-jin’s pointed remark, Ju-eon finally understood what had happened.

It seemed Myung-hwon had told the other members scheduled for the gate today not to come to the guild but to head straight to the dungeon, while deliberately not passing this information to Ju-eon.

The reason was obvious.

“Could I have a moment of your time, Guild Master?”

Despite Ju-eon’s smiling face, Myung-hwon looked uncomfortable, but no one tried to stop Ju-eon. The people who had been dragged out since dawn showed no interest in whether their guild master got in trouble, saying they were going to get coffee as they filed out of the office.

After entering Myung-hwon’s office and locking the door, Ju-eon called him in a lowered voice.

“Yeo Myung-hwon.”

“I didn’t want you going to a dungeon on your first day.”

Believing the first blow was better than anticipation, Myung-hwon readily admitted his mistake.

“It was a C-class dungeon.”

“……”

“What’s the point of hiring me and then not letting me go out on missions?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not that weak.”

“I know, I know, but… I’m worried.”

Myung-hwon stroked the back of Ju-eon’s hand with his finger and whispered in a dejected voice. Seeing Myung-hwon’s vulnerable side that he didn’t show to others, Ju-eon pressed his forehead.

“I told you I wouldn’t deliberately put myself in danger.”

“Yes.”

“You did wrong, right?”

“Yes.”

Ju-eon leaned his face against Myung-hwon’s chest as he sat on the edge of the table. Thump. Thump. He could clearly hear his heartbeat.

“I may not be able to be as active as I want yet, but I’m not so incapable that I can only do office work.”

“Yes.”

“So don’t do this again. It’s also inconsiderate to the team members.”

“Yes.”

Myung-hwon nodded obediently to everything, like a gentle lamb, ready to agree to anything.

Ju-eon hadn’t planned to talk like this. He had intended to speak properly over dinner before going to the real estate agency. He wanted to thank him for waiting all this time, to say that he would become someone worthy of standing beside him. He wanted to thank him for waiting five years ago, and now too.

But the world never flows as we want it to. Though somewhat ungraceful, somehow this moment felt right.

Myung-hwon briefly kissed the top of Ju-eon’s head, who quietly nestled in his arms, then rested his cheek there.

“Can I choose the house we’re moving to?”

“Yes.”

“I want my own room too.”

“Yes.”

We have now regained the trajectory of life we desired.

Though we’re still lacking and will hurt each other by acting selfishly, making each other regret things, Ju-eon felt confident they wouldn’t waver like before.

Ju-eon spoke in a plain tone, like passing clouds.

“And I’ve been thinking about forming a bond with you soon.”

“Yes. Wait, what?”

Myung-hwon, who had been answering obediently, suddenly lifted his head as if malfunctioning. Then he looked down at Ju-eon with a dumbfounded expression.

Ju-eon pulled Myung-hwon’s nape closer. Their foreheads touched.

“I’m not joking.”

Though he tried to sound casual, he was so nervous that his body trembled in that brief moment.

It was something Myung-hwon had been waiting to say himself, calculating the timing. Seemingly annoyed at being beaten to it, Myung-hwon muttered in a lowered voice.

“I should have said it first.”

Even after Ju-eon’s return, Myung-hwon still struggled with insecurity.

Now that he knew he wasn’t a flawless being, he feared Ju-eon might love him less than before, or might leave again someday. It pained him like an unquenchable thirst.

Ji-woong had always expected perfection from him, and those around him took it for granted. That’s why he couldn’t easily confess first.

“I’m not as great as you think.”

“If I liked you because you were great, we would have broken up long ago.”

“That’s harsh.”

It would be a lie to say that Myung-hwon’s fear of losing Ju-eon had completely disappeared with Ju-eon’s confession, but confirming their feelings were moving at the same pace was enough.

“So what’s your answer?”

Ju-eon asked in an anxious voice, as if Myung-hwon had multiple options. Myung-hwon, who had been stunned by Ju-eon’s sudden confession, soon wrapped his arms firmly around Ju-eon’s waist.

“Gladly.”

Myung-hwon let out a low laugh.

From the beginning, there was only one possible answer to the question.

A Time-Limited Life Avoiding the Regretful Male Lead | The End